Brake beam fulcrum



Sept-15, 1931. E OLSON 1,823,504

BRAKE BEAM FULGRUM Filed Feb. 13. 1950 Patented Sept. 15, 1931 UNITED STATES GEORGE E. OLSON, OF HIBBING, MINNESOTA BRAKE BEAM FULCRUMI Application filed February 13, 1930. .Serial No 428,143.

This invention relates to improvements in brake beam fulcrums or struts for railroad cars, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a novel form of fulcrum or strut having practical advantages over those at present known in the art.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description thereof.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the invention, and wherein like reference characters indicate like parts:

Figure 1 is an elevation of one of the improved struts or fulcrum members as applied to a brake beam, the latter being shown in section as well as that part of the fulcrum surroundingsame;

Figure 2 is a similar view of the fulcrum member taken at right angles to Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is an elevation'of the truss rod end of the fulcrum, the truss rod being shown in position thereupon.

I am aware thatsomewhatsimilar brake beam struts or fulcrum members are old in the art, they beingso formed as to accomplish similar objects, for example the ready reversibility, of the strut, and the like. However it is deemed the novel combination of my present invention has obvious meritorious features thereover.

1' represents the brake beam which is of channel iron construction, 2 the truss rod commonly associated therewith, and 3 the improved strut or fulcrum member. This latter is preferably made of cast metal suitable for the purpose and of a length equal to the distance intermediate of the inner bottom wall of the brake beam and the center of the truss rod 2. i g

A box like base portion lis provided for the brake beam and throught-he lower portion of which the beam exiends while that portion of thebase in which the strut 3 is installed wholly surrounds same and is held within the base by the through bolt 5 the latter preferably being provided with a suit able cotter 6 as keepermeans so that it may be quickly removed for thechangingof the strut to its adjustable or reversed position from right to left as is frequently necessary in such devices and for which purpose the strut is provided with opposed through holes as at 7 for the bolt 5.

The inner end 8 of the strut is novel in that it is made to snugly fit the interior of the brake beam 1 when in either of its adjusted positions and furthermore in that it is provided with an integral pin or tit 9 which extends through a hole in the bottom of the brake beam 1 and also into a similar hole in the base 4; of the strut, thus insuring a positive union of the base beam and strut when the latte-r is in position.

The strut 3 is provided with the usual through slot 10 disposed diagonally in respect to same and substantially centrally intermediate its ends, this slot being for the reception of the brake lever 11 which is held in position by the oppositely diagonally disposed bolt 12 as is common in such devices.

The outer end of the strut 3 is novel in that it is provided with protruding lugs 13 upon diagonally opposite corners of the strut, the same being spaced inwardly from the end thereof some distance and which lugs are provided with holes for the reception of the staple like keeper 14: in which the latter is held by suitable nuts 15, and the extreme end of the strut beneath the keeper 14: is provided with transverse central grooves or channels indicated at 16 for the reception of the truss rod 2 in either of the adjusted positions of the strut, and in either event it will be noted the rod occurs beneath the keeper 1 Whereby the latter functions equally in either position of the strut.

From the above it'is apparent that while my improved form of fulcrum is designed to function in some respects similar to those already in the art yet it has characteristic features in providing means whereby the inner end of the strut fits equally within the brake beam and carrying therewith at all times means whereby the beam and base thereof are assured of positive registration when in position, together with the novel form of keeper for the brace rod, which are new in the I art and fall Within the scope of the appended claims. v

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A brake beam fulcrum comprising an adjustable unitary strut, a base member surrounding the beam end of the strut and the beam, means for holding the beam, base and strut in fixed relation, and means at the 0posite end of the strut comprising an adjustable staple for engagement with the truss member of the beam, in either'por'tion of the strut.

2. The combination With an adjustable brake beamstrut, of means at the truss end of the strut comprising an adjustable stable for engagement With the truss member in either of the adjusted positions of the strut.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

GEORGE E. OLSON. 

